In France, every year around 150,000 people suffer a head injury. Some 45,000 of these people (30%) are admitted to hospital with brain damage resulting from the impact of this cranial trauma. The average age for this injury is 27 for women and 32 for men.
Biological mechanisms and causes of head injuries
Head injuries are most often caused by falls, road accidents, assaults and sport.
The brain damage resulting from this trauma frequently leads to disability, and it is estimated to be the cause of 3% of deaths per year, i.e. around 4,500 people.
Head injury symptoms and diagnosis
There are many different symptoms of head injury: headaches, nausea and vomiting, and various neurological disorders such as loss of sensation, loss of motor skills or aphasia, drowsiness or visual problems.
A number of tests are carried out to diagnose a head injury, including a neurological examination based on the Glasgow criteria and a computer tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan if a brain lesion is suspected.
Treatments for head injuries
Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, ranging from simple monitoring to surgery.
In some cases, rehabilitation is necessary to enable patients to recover their motor and cognitive functions.
